Public Affairs: Animal rights lobbyist joins British Red Cross

Ravi Chandiramani 10-Jun-05

One of the leading lights in the campaign to outlaw hunting with dogs has joined the British Red Cross (BRC) as its first public affairs adviser.

Corrine Evans has left the International Fund for Animal Welfare, where as parliamentary officer she lobbied for the fox hunting ban.

She will be charged with briefing parliamentarians and policy makers about International Red Cross developments as it prepares to provide a six-month update on the tsunami relief effort.

Evans said she wanted to 'make sure that the high profile and status of the BRC as a household name is matched in Parliament'.

On domestic policy, the humanitarian aid charity is lobbying for the Road Safety Bill to make first-aid training a requirement of the driving test. The bill underwent its second reading this week in the House of Lords.

She will also raise awareness of the BRC's role in fulfilling its duties under the Civil Contingencies Act, set up to 'improve community resilience' to 'major disruptive incidents'. This will involve informing local authorities and emergency services that BRC's network of volunteers can provide basic medical and emotional support to victims.

Evans worked at the International Fund for Animal Welfare for three and a half years, where she was involved with the Animal Welfare Bill and legislation for protecting marine wildlife, as well as the controversial hunting ban. Prior to that she was at the League Against Cruel Sports.

At the BRC, Evans reports to head of media and PR Leigh Daynes. She will shortly be joined by Nick Starkey, who arrives after spells at the NFU and Defra in the newly created post of public policy adviser.